Automatic feeder for carding engines



Dec. 4 1923.

J. W. WALKER AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR CAHDINQ ENGINES Filed June 6, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

/ A/VE VTORL 6/ 77 77M WM ATT/Y,

J. W. WALKER AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR GARDING ENGINES Filed June 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. W. WALKER AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR CARDING suemzs Dec.-- 4, 1923. 1,476,476

Filed June 6. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 4,1923. 1,476,476

J. W. WALKER AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR CARDING ENGINES Filed June 6-, 1922 5 Sheets$heat 4 W Will/w w 77% bee. 4,1923. 1,476,476

' J. w. WALKER AUTQMATIC FEEDER FOR cARDING ENGINES Filed June 6, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F 6'. p c g J'Zf f5 sf Arr'y.

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WILLIAM WALKER, OF BATLEY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PLAT'I BROTHERS AND COMPANY LIMITED, OF OLDHAM, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR CARDING ENGINES.

Application filed June 6,

T'oaZZ whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN lViLLrAir lVALKER, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 8 Russell Street, Batley, in thecounty of York, Eng land, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Feeders for Card ing- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to improvements in or relating to automatic feeding machines for feeding fibrous material or othersubstances as for example for feeding cotton, wool, or other fibres to carding engines, scribblers, Garnett machines, drying machines or other apparatus, with which automaticfeeding machines can be usefully combined.

My invention relates to that class of automatic feeder which has an inclined spiked lattice receiving material from a hopper which spiked lattice delivers to a scale or weighing motion which empties onto a horizontal lattice or creeper or the like.

My improvements primarily concern the scale motion and its controlling mechanism and the means which govern the driving mechanism in accordance with the scale motion.

The improvements are well illustrated in the attached drawings and hereafter fully described with reference thereto.

In the-said drawings Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of an automatic feeding machine with my improve ments applied, certain of the parts being omitted from this view to prevent confusion.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the automatic feeding machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the weighing scale motion and combined parts.

Fig. 4 shows a partialplan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation'of Fig.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of a modified form of weighing receptacle having double doors at the bottom and with necessary changes to suit such a modified construction.

The machine illustrated, combines a spiked lattice a receiving from a hopper compartment A, and, if desired, two, movable combs I), b or other cooperating devices working to the spiked lattice a one in front and onebehind, the combs working with the the lever arm d.

to a graduated scale which can be convenientl'y marked on the bar d extending from The weighing box (Z is capable of tilting slightly or makinga limited angular movement, this being limited by a fixed or adjustable stop (Z (see Fig. 1).

The box cl has a hinged or pivoted bottom (Z capable ofopening and closing, the

top of the box being open to receive the fibre combed off the back of the spiked lattice.

The weighing or scale motion may be, but is not necessarily controlled from the mechanism which actuates the horizontal conveying lattice or creeper or receiving means, (or it may be from the feed roller) and driving connections from some moving part of said horizontal conveying lattice or the like are made to this end, as for example, a driven cam plate or revolving part 0 may be employed driven from said horizontal lattire 0 (or the feed roller) by chains 6' or other suitable means. I l

Presuming the filling of the weighing box (6 to be taking place, and that the spiked lifting lattice is at work delivering fibre to said box, then the bottom (Z of the boxis closed. Said bottom is held closed due to the engagement of a pin f by a tooth f on a weighted lever f fulcrumed at f (or other equivalent device) said lever 7 having an attached slidable bar f passing through a bearing 7 and a projecting part marked 7' all so arranged, that when an adjustable ro- 'tatable finger c encounters said projecting part f the weighted fulcrumed lever f is disengaged and releases the hinged bottom (Z allowing same to fall open, The rotatable finger 6 is conveniently carried on the before mentioned cam plate or revolving part 6.

Upon the weighing box (Z is a projecting spindle y or equivalent part, and this spindle 9 works in connection with a weighted looking lever h pivoted at h and having a properly shaped nose, and also in connection ill til)

with a lever system which holds the driving clutch or driving means in during delivery. This lever system is shown as consisting of a lever i with shaped nose 2', the lever being pivoted at i and connected by a link to a lever i pivoted at The first mentioned pivoted locking lever lt is carried on a bracket 71 tulcrumed at b which bracket also supports a small disc or wheel j with a wiper, tooth or projection y", the express purpose of which tooth or projection is to positively ensure that the weighing box (Z is in proper position for en gagement of the pivoted locking lever h and to ensure disengagement of the lever system '5, 2' '5 controlling the clutch or driving means for the spiked lattice, etc.

'lzh'esuming the weighing box (Z to have received its desired weight, then the scale just over-balances and assumes the overbalanced position indicated in Fig. 3 where the condition is that immediately preceding the opening of the bottom or" the Weighing box. This over-balancing of the weighing box (Z throws the spindle 9' into the path of the wiper tooth or projection j and allows the nose of the pivoted locking lever ii to engage said spindle g and throws the weight of the weighing box (Z and its contents on to the lever system i, i i the element i of which holds the driving mechanism or clutch in. As a consequence downward niovementof lever i causes the link to raise the lever i and to disengage such lever system. The result is, the driving mechanism or clutch is thrown out (by a. spring or weight) the driving of the spiked lattice a lifting from the hopper A ceases, and the scale is ready for emptyin Emptying occurs when the rotating finger e on the cam plate 6 or revolving part encounters the projection from the weighted tulcrumed lever 7, when the bottom 03'' of the box is released and the weighed fibre falls onto the horizontal lattice c orother receiving or conveying means.

The next step, is to reset the hinged or pivoted bottom (Z and this is done by the provision of a small toothed quadrant or strip of teeth 6 on the cam plate 6 or revolving cart, said teeth 6 gearing for a short period. with one of two connected gear wheels is, is, the wheel being mounted on a shal'tic having arms 70 which move through about when the pinions 70, 7c are actuated.- The result is, that during a portion of its revolution the cam plate 6 or revolving part (through the geared parts and the arms it 70 in effect lifts up and re-sets the bottom (Z of the weighing box 65 turning same on its hinges, said bottom latching under the weighted fulcrumed lever f. r c The next operation, isthe unlocking of the weighing box 43 to permit same to rise to its out oi balance or receiving position which action is due to the adjustable balance weight (Z and, for this purpose it is necessary to unlock the pivoted locking lever in and the iulcru ned bracket h? which carries the pulley j with the wiper tooth j. its the locking lever it is most conveniently cirried on the :tulcrumed bracket 7H, this can be done by the provision of a cam like projection e on the rotating cam plate a or revolving part, the cam device c acting on a projection 71, from the iulcriuned bracket h, which projection h it moves at the required time against the action of a spring or otherwise. There it thus nothing to prevent the weighing box .55 resetting, which it does with its movable bottom (Z closed, and, conditions mechanism or. clutch (the latter conveniently arranged at the other side of the machine) and forces said clutch in, the movement of the transverse cross-shaft we bring ing a gap or notch m therein into register with a part of the lever element marked 2", already mentioned, so that such lever system or combination can look into said notch or gap m" to hold the clutch in. The spiked lifting lattice and combs at once commence to work and re-filling of the weighing box takes place. Following this, over-balancing takes place, locking of the wei hing box in the over-balanced position, with release of the driving mechanism or clutch, and stop page of supply to the weighing box. Next release of box bottom holding'lever f and emptying of weighing box, then resetting of the box bottom, unlocking of weighing box, re-engagement or" the driving mechscomplete cycle of operations;

The pulley with wiper tooth y" can be driven by a flexible band i applied to the indicated combination having a small tulc-rumed compensating pulley y' the spring not only serving to tighten the band but also as the spring for the fulcruinegd bracket "k The letter 71, denotes a stop pin for the nism or clutch, and so on again through the lever in and the letter k a limit stop for the fulcrumed bracket 71,.

I prefer to drive the automatic feeder through a clutch which consists of two metal halves n, 0, one-halt, that marked 01, being loose and having a pulle in and working with-a or iii emma The other clutch-half consists of a plate 0' with boss movable on a. sunk key the-work- D u I I ing itace of the plate having a tooth 0 thereon. A clutch lever m pivoted at m engages the movable half 0 of the clutch,

and, the cross-shaft m before mentioned, when positively actuated, puts the clutch in gear, a. spring mi disengaging the clutch when the cross shaft m is released by the lever system i, 2' 71", already outlined.

other means of driving the automatic feeder otherwise than through. a clutch may be used by me.

In order to limit the fall. of the hingedbottomof the weighing box I may provide the cross shaft k ,.which has the pendant arms k fixed thereto, with an end finger-r which bears on a peg which may be adjustably fixed, the object being to allow the cross-shaft to beheld in any adjusted posi tion and so governthe settingzof thearms 79 It is to be understood. that mechanical modifications may be madezby me without affecting the system of Working herein outlined. Also that the horizontal lattice or other conveying means which receive the weighted fibre is or are driven as usual by any suitable means.

Instead of the movable bottom of the weighing box being made in one piece and hinged at one point, the said bottom may be in two halves or sections pivoted at two or more points. This is indicated by the Figs. 6. 7 and 8, wherein the bottom is shown consisting of two halves f, 7 each separately hinged. Av lever arm f is fixed to the one half f" and a link f connects said lever arm to the other half 7". This lever and link connection might exist at each end of the weighing box. The release and locking of the bottom is similar to what I have already described and need not he further enlarged upon.

I declare that what I claim is:

1. An automatic feeding machine having a hopper, a spiked lifting lattice, a single weighing box, a movable bottom therefor, a catch on the box bottom, a weighted lever on said box, fulcrum therefor, a slidable bar connected to said lever, guides for said bar, a projection on said bar, a revolving cam plate adjacent to the weighing box, means for driving said cam plate, andv a. finger on the cam plate which periodically encounters the projection on the bar.

2. In automatic feeding machines, a hopper, a spiked lifting lattice, a single weighing box, pivotal supports therefor, a movable bottom for. the box, a catch on the bottom, apivoted lever capable of engaging said catch, a pivoted bracket, a pivoted locking lever thereon, a projecting finger on the weighing box, a revolving pulley. on the pivoted bracket, a wiper on the re volving pulley, means to drive the pulley, and: a system of levers upon which; the weighing box is positioned and a transverse traverse cross-bar cooperating withthe system of levers.

3. In automatic feeding machines, a hopger, a spiked lifting lattice, a single weighing box, a movable bottom pivoted to the box, a catch on the weighingbox. a pivoted lever to engage said weighing box, gear wheels in connection with the box bottom and lifting arms operative. to ire-set the box bottom, a pivoted lever with locking lever mounted thereon, a projection on the pivoted lever, a rotating cam plate adjacent to the weighing box, a cam projection. on the cam plate, a strip of teeth on the-cam, said teeth gearing at times with the gear wheels to reset the weighing box bottom.

t. In automatic feeding machines,.a hopper, a spiked lifting lattice, a single weighing. box, a movable bottom. therefor, a projection on the box, a rotating wiper to act on the projection, a lever systennfoithe projection to rest on when the weighing box is positioned, a transverse traverse bar, clutch mechanism, a movable clutch element, a spring to disengage the movable clutch element, a rotating cam plate adjacent to the weighing box, means to drive same, a bar on the cam plate, a lever arm upon which said bar acts and a lever jointed to a transverse traverse bar by which the movable clutch element is forced in, and a notch in the transverse traverse bar co-o )erating with an element in the lever system.

5. An automatic feeding machine, com prising a hopper, a spiked lifting lattice, a single weighing box, fulcrumed support therefor, a movable bottom for the box, and operative gear wheels and arms to lift the box bottom, a catch on the box bottom, a box bottom locking catch. a bar connected thereto, a box position locking lever, a projection from the box for the latter to engage, a lever for said projection to rest on, a fulcrum for said lover, a. link and lever connected thereto, and a transverse traverse bar, a revolv'able cam adjacent to the weighing box, said revolvable cam having means thereto to disengage the mechanism for releasing the movable bottom, means to disengage the positioning catch, means to actuate the mechanism to re-set the box bottom, and means to release the traverse bar.

6. In automatic feeding machines, a hopper, a lifting lattice, a single weighing box, a movable bottom therefor, a catch on the box bottom, a pivoted locking lover, a slidable bar connected therewith, guides therefor, a projection on the bar, a revolving cam plate, means to drive the same, a finger on the cam plate to act on the bar, a finger on the weighing box, a wiper device to act on the finger, means to drive the wiper, a pivotcd'locking catch to engage the finger on the weighing box, a tulcrumed bracket for the wiper device, a shaped cam on the revolving cam plate to move the fulcrumed bracket, and a system of levers upon which the finger rests when the box is positioned, and a traverse bar, and means to move said traverse bar and acted upon by a bar on the revolving cam plate.

7. In automatic feeding machines, a hopper, a lifting lattice, a single weighing box, a fulcrumed bracket, a revolvable part carried thereby, a wiper on said revolvable part, a finger on the weighing box, a pivoted locking catch to engage the finger, a lever system, an edge on one of said levers upon which the finger rests when the weighing box is positioned, a transverse traverse bar co-operating with the lever system, a re volving cam plate adjacent to the weighing box and a cam thereon to act upon the fulcrumed bracket to disengage the positioning means.

8. In automatic feeding machines, a hoptherefor a aositionin device re-settinr means for the bottom, a cam adjacent to the weighing box, a device carried on the said cam to release the bottom, a device on said cam to disengage the positioning means, and a revolving bar, and a lever arm acted upon thereby to move a transverse traverse bar, a lever pivoted to the transverse bar, a t'ulcrum tor said lever, and a movable clutch half, a coacting clutch, the clutch being adapted to drive the spiked lattice during feeding.

9. In automatic feeding machines, a hopper, a spiked lifting lattice, a single weighted box, a movable bottom, means to lock the bottom, means to release the bottom, means to position the box, a revolving cam plate adjacent to the box controlling said means, and a traverse bar and a driving clutch, the traverse bar being positively moved to throw the clutch elements into gear and a spring to disengage the clutch elements, the transverse traverse bar being operated through lever mechanism and a revolvable bar mounted on the revolving cam plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed'my name to this specification.

JOHN WILLIAM WALKER. 

